Intro to Federal Grant Opportunities

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Intro to Federal Grant Opportunities Maine Association of Nonprofits November 8, 2010 Dial in to hear webinar: 1-866-740-1260 Enter: 8 7 1 1 8 8 5

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Intro to Federal Grant Opportunities. Maine Association of Nonprofits November 8, 2010 Dial in to hear webinar: 1-866-740-1260 Enter: 8 7 1 1 8 8 5. Intro to Federal Grant Opportunities. Deborah Schilder Director for Planning & Development Broadreach Family & Community Services - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Intro to Federal Grant Opportunities

Page 1: Intro to Federal Grant Opportunities

Intro to Federal Grant Opportunities

Maine Association of NonprofitsNovember 8, 2010

Dial in to hear webinar:1-866-740-1260

Enter:8 7 1 1 8 8 5

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Intro to Federal Grant Opportunities

Deborah SchilderDirector for Planning & DevelopmentBroadreach Family & Community Services

[email protected]

338-2200 Ext 112

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Webinar Goals

To increase participants’ Understanding of the organizational capacity

needed to apply for, implement and report on federal grants;

Ability to search for and evaluate available federal funding opportunities; and

Understanding of the process for applying for federal grant funds.

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Get Ready!Purpose of Federal Grants

To secure funding for a specific project or to address a specific problem that directly assists or benefits the public in such areas as education, health, public safety, public welfare,

and public works.

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Some Types of Federal Grants

Capacity BuildingChallengeConferenceConstructionDemonstrationDisseminationEquipment

•General Purpose

•Matching

•Operating

•Planning

•Renovation

•Research

•Training

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Federal Funding Mechanisms

Block or Formula Grants

Entitlement Grants

Project or Discretionary Grants

Appropriation (Earmark Grants)

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Federal Grant Process: Overview

Public Grant Announcement: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)

Release of Application Materials

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Federal Grant Process… more

Bidder’s Conference or Webinar

Question and Answer Period

Sometimes: Pre-Application

Deadline for Proposal Submission

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Federal Grant Process… more

Grant Review

Award Notification

Contract

Reporting

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Are You Ready for a Fed Grant?

Previous experience with federal grants?

Reporting & audit capacity?

Ability to meet tight deadlines?

Ability to manage long-term multi-dimensional project and partnerships?

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Get Set! Grants.Gov

Search for grant oppsRegister to apply for grantsApply for grantsTrack grant applications

Also- agency websites, such as

www.e-grants.ed.gov

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Analyzing a Notice of Funding Availability

Eligibility of organization

Goals of the NOFA: Relevance to your organization

Grant Requirements

Organizational feasibility of developing a proposal

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Analyzing…(continued)

Probability of funding success

Feasibility of managing project, partnerships, reporting etc

Probability of meeting objectives/ project success

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Gathering Info

Review all available printed and posted info

Call or email contract officer with questions

Find out who else has been funded and for what purpose

Review sample funded proposal

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Get Set

Learn about upcoming deadlines

Line up partners

Research needs & opportunities

Register with grants.gov (or update registration information)

Do as much advance planning as possible

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BEFORE you write a grant

Know your organization, mission & strengths

Identify the community problem/ needConnect with potential partnersAnalyze the RFPGather necessary information then…. Get organized to write the

proposal

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GPRA

The Government Performance and Results Act, 1993

GPRA addressed a broad range of concerns about government accountability and performance. Its goals were to improve the confidence of Americans in federal government, focus on the actual results of government activity and services, support congressional oversight and decision-making, and improve the managerial and internal workings of agencies within the federal government.

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State Review Exec Order 12372

Donna BradstreetState Planning Office184 State Street38 State House StationAugusta, Maine 04333-0038Telephone: (207) 287-6077(Direct) (207) 287-5649Fax: (207) [email protected]

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Go! The Game Plan

Study all grant requirements, including eligibility, reporting, budgeting

Review timeline-- Deadlines are IMMUTABLE!

Bring together partners ASAP

Review scoring process

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GO!

Make a checklist of all components and timelines

Organize your filing system Gather necessary info Ask for clarification if needed Outline the project goals, activities &

outcomes Make a plan for writing the grant – who/ what/

when with deadlines for completion

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GO!

Write drafts of all partsOften it is helpful to start with the budgetReview and rewrite/ edit draftsAssemble, reviewRead instructions againPROOFREADSubmit 48 hours ahead of time

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A Successful Grant Proposal is

Clear

Concise

Well-planned

Specific

Passionate

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A Successful Grant Proposal presents

A problem

A solution

A way to measure success

A clear budget

A plan for sustainability

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Partnerships

Benefits of Collaboration

Eliminate duplication of other efforts

Fiscal Sponsorship

MOUs vs. Letters of support

Involvement of stakeholders

Is there broad community support for the idea?

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Evaluation

Internal vs External

How will you know the project was a success?

What tools will you use to collect data, measure progress?

Must be part of project design

Connect objectives, activities, impact

Be truthful

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Sustainability

What happens to the project after the grant period?

Is it a one-shot project? A pilot project?

How will additional funding be leveraged?

How will results be disseminated?

Demonstrate long-term planning

Collaborations

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If you are turned down for funding

Request scoring sheets and comments

Review carefully

Plan for next NOFA

Try again

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Top Tips for Successful Grants

Give yourself enough time.

Do your homework.

Contact the funder if you have any questions.

Be organized. Make a checklist.

Follow directions, format & timelines.

Pay attention to scoring information.

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More Top Tips…..

Be concise. Clear. Don’t use jargon. Do use bullets and tables. Appearance!

Be specific, use numbers when possible.

How will the project make a difference? (Show enthusiasm & define success).

Be truthful.

Have someone else read the proposal before submitting it. Proofread!

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Final Tips for Beginning Federal Grantwriters

Collaborate with an experienced partner.

Ask for reviewers comments/ scoring sheet.

Stay abreast of funding trends & legislation.

Plan ahead.

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Deborah SchilderDirector of Planning and Development

Broadreach Family & Community Services

[email protected] (207) 338-2200 Ext 112

www.BRMaine.org